Adobe Illustrator CC is a vector drawing tool, which means you can create shapes and different types of paths using a series of tools. In this video, you'll gain an understanding of what a vector path is composed of, by exploring paths in Illustrator CC with the Selection tool and the Direct Selection tool. To follow along, open this practice file from the downloadable practice files for this tutorial. To see all of the artwork out here, choose View, Fit Artboard in Window. Start by selecting the Selection tool in the Tools panel on the left. Come out to the artwork and click right on this line to select it. This is a path. Paths are composed of Anchor points - at the start and end of a simple path - with a path connecting those Anchor points. In a path like this, the Anchor points control the length and direction of the path. Select the Zoom tool in the Tools panel on the left, and drag across this curved path to zoom in. Then select the Selection tool in the Tools panel and click right on this curved path above the line. When you select a path with the Selection tool, a bounding box surrounds the path allowing you to resize, rotate, and transform the path as a whole. In the Properties panel to the right you'll see the Properties of the selected path. Notice that there's a Stroke applied to this path but no Fill. Click the Fill color - make sure the Swatches option is selected - and select a color. I'll select this blue. Notice that the stroke doesn't completely surround the fill. This path is called an open path because the Anchor points on the ends of the path are not connected. To remove the color fill, choose Edit, Undo Apply Swatch So you can see the Anchor points that control this path select the Direct Selection tool, in the Tools panel on the left. The Direct Selection tool can be used to adjust the path and the individual Anchor points. This can give you control over the shape of the path after you've created it. Move the Pointer over the top Anchor point of the curve, and click to select it. You should see these lines coming from the Anchor point. These are called Direction handles or Control handles. Any Anchor point you create, can have these handles and they can be used to curve a path and control the shape of that curve. Drag the end of a handle and you'll see that the curve of the path changes. The last type of path you'll look at, are shapes. A shape like a circle or a square is a closed path, since the starting and ending points of the path are the same. In other words, all of the Anchor points are connected one to another in the shape. With the Direct Selection tool selected, click the edge of this circle. You should see the four Anchor points that control the curve of the path. Move the Pointer over one of them and then click to select it. You'll see the Direction handles that control the curve. Try dragging that selected Anchor point. Then drag the end of a handle and you'll see the curve of the path changes. There are a lot of paths and shapes you can create in your Illustrator CC projects and all of them are made up of Anchor points, paths, and when necessary, Direction handles to create a curve. Understanding what paths are composed of, is a great first step to creating and editing your own artwork in Illustrator CC. You can close this practice file without saving by choosing File, Close.

What you learned: Path and curves

Paths are made of anchor points that connect with line segments.

Select paths for editing with the Selection tool in the Tools panel. A bounding box appears around the entire path for transforming.

Dragging the end of a path controls the length and direction of a path.

The Direct Selection tool in the Tools panel is used to select anchor points and paths.

A curved path is controlled by an anchor point with direction handles. The direction handles control the shape of the curve.

Shapes are closed paths because all the anchor points on the path are connected.

Draw with the Pencil tool

Learn how to draw freeform and straight paths with the Pencil tool.

Adobe Illustrator CC has a variety of tools for drawing paths, including the Pencil tool for creating fluid, beautiful curves and straight paths. To complete the artwork for this project, you'll start by drawing with the Pencil tool. Then you'll set some Pencil tool settings and finally you'll finish the artwork for the ship out here. If you want to follow along you can open this practice file from the downloadable practice files for this tutorial. Then to see all the artwork, choose View, Fit All in Window. On the left is artwork you'll add the final shapes to using the Pencil tool. When you've finished the ship artwork on the left you'll drag it over to the Artboard on the right. Select the Zoom tool in the Tools panel on the left and drag across the upper left part of the Artboard with the ship on it so you can zoom in. To select the Pencil tool and begin drawing click and hold down on the Shaper tool in the Tools panel on the left. If a window opens, you can click to close it Click and hold down on the Shaper tool again and select the Pencil tool. To set the Stroke Color and the Stroke Weight for the line you're about to draw with the Pencil tool, click the Stroke Color, in the Properties panel on the right of the document and with the Swatches selected make sure that black is chosen. Also make sure the Stroke Weight is set to 1 pt. The Fill in this case, doesn't matter since the Fill of the paths you draw with the Pencil tool will be removed. To the left of the ship - in a blank area - click and drag to create a curved path with the Pencil tool. Drawing with the Pencil tool is a lot like drawing with a pencil on paper. Even slight variations will show. To make paths you draw with the Pencil tool smoother, you can edit the Pencil tool settings. Click the Tool options button in the Properties panel on the right and the Pencil Tool Options appear in the dialog box. Drag the top Slider all the way to the right to Smooth. That way the paths you draw will look smoother. Click OK And try drawing another curved path with the Pencil tool to see the effect. Notice how the path is smoother, after you release the mouse button. Now you'll draw a part of the ship. You can follow these aqua Guides - if you like - as you draw. Starting in the corner here, click and drag to begin drawing with the Pencil tool, and follow the aqua Guides as best you can. When you return to the beginning of the path, a circle will show, next to the Pointer, meaning that the path will be closed, when you release the mouse button. So, release the mouse button, to close the path. Notice that this corner down here really isn't a corner. With the Pencil tool, you can also redraw parts of a path, even paths not created with the Pencil tool. Move the Pointer onto the path. The asterisk next to the Pencil icon will disappear. Redraw the part of the path you want, finishing on the existing path. To change the Color Fill of the shape, click the Fill Color in the Properties panel to the right of the document. Make sure the Swatches option is selected and select this tan color. Now you'll drag to another part of the document. Press the Spacebar to access the Hand tool temporarily. And drag in the Document window so you can see the aqua Guides at the bottom of the Artboard. Then release the Spacebar. Now, you'll draw this shape, following the Guides if you want. This time, you'll see how to draw a straight line with the Pencil tool. Starting here - before drawing - press the Option key on Mac or Alt key on Windows to begin drawing a straight line. When a line appears next to the Pencil Pointer, drag to create a straight line down here. Without releasing the mouse button, release the key and continue drawing along the aqua Guide. When you come to the top line of the aqua Guide - which needs to be straight - with the mouse button still held down, press the Option key on Mac or Alt key on Windows Draw a straight line across the top. When the Pointer reaches where you started a circle appears next to it. Release the mouse button and then the key. To set the Fill Color for the shape you just drew, click the Fill Color in the Properties panel. Make sure the Swatches option is selected and select this orange. So, you can see all the artwork choose View Fit All in Window To complete the artwork, select the Selection tool in the Tools panel. Drag across the original 2 paths you created and press Backspace, or Delete to delete them. Then drag across all the ship shapes to select them. And drag one of the selected shapes to the Artboard on the right. Drawing with the Pencil tool can be really fun and give you a tool for creating fluid paths easily. Like with all of the tools in Illustrator CC, take your time, and practice creating in your own projects. You can save a copy of this file by choosing File Save As... and make sure to give it a different name so you don't overwrite the original practice file.

What you learned: Draw with the Pencil tool

Select the Pencil tool in the Tools panel.

Double-click the Pencil tool to set tool options.

Drag in the document to create a path with the Pencil tool.

As you draw, return to the beginning of the path to close it and make a shape.

Position the Pencil tool on the path to redraw part of it. Drag to redraw, ending back on the path.

To draw a straight path with the Pencil tool, Alt-drag (Windows) or Option-drag (macOS).

Draw with the Curvature tool

Discover how to draw different types of paths using the Curvature tool.

The Curvature tool in Illustrator CC is a great way to create Vector artwork, easily. In order to create the guitar artwork, you see over here on the right you'll begin by learning about the Curvature tool. Then you'll create a series of paths that make up this guitar and finally, you'll assemble the shapes in the Artboard on the right. You can open this practice file from the downloadable practice files for this tutorial if you'd like to follow along. Then choose View Fit All in Windows so you can see everything out here. To zoom in closer to this purple area on the left select the Zoom tool in the Tools panel and drag across it. You'll begin by drawing the body of the guitar here. So, select the Curvature tool in the Tools panel on the left. The Curvature tool is used to create paths by clicking to set Anchor points. Before you start drawing - in the Properties panel to the right of document - click the Fill Color make sure the Swatches option is selected and choose None to remove the fill. Make sure the Stroke Weight is also set to 1 pt. The Fill and Stroke you set now will be the Fill and Stroke for the artwork you draw. The circles in the document indicate where you'll click to set Anchor points for a path. Starting at the top click to create this first Anchor point. After you release the mouse button move the Pointer to the next circle and click to create another Anchor point. After you release the mouse button move the Pointer away and notice that a curved path is created between these two points. Move the Pointer around to get a feeling for how it's controlling the curve. Come to the next point and click to set it. Then move the Pointer away again. As you draw with the Curvature tool you can edit the Anchor points you've already drawn. Maybe even moving them or deleting them. Come to the previous point you created move the Pointer over it and click to select it. Drag that point to see how you can move them. Then drag it back to where it was. Come down here and click to create the next point and continue clicking to create points around the shape. To close the path, move the Pointer over the first point you created. When a circle appears next to the Pointer, click to close the path and finish drawing this guitar shape. You can also create straight lines with the Curvature tool. Next, you'll create the neck of the guitar using straight lines. Click to set the first Anchor point here. Then click to set the next point in the corner to the right and move the Pointer away. Notice that the path has a curve. To make this path straight move the Pointer over the last Anchor point you created double-click on it and then move the Pointer away. The paths are now straight. You can also work faster by double-clicking to create a point and make it straight at the same time. Come to where the next point will go down here and double-click to create an Anchor point with a straight path. Then double-click to create the next point. Move the Pointer over the original point you created and double-click to close the path and finish drawing with straight lines. Now press the Spacebar to temporarily access the Hand tool and drag in the Document window so you can see the orange area below. Then release the Spacebar. Select the Zoom tool in the Tools panel and drag across the orange area to zoom in, Path you create with any of the drawing tools can be edited with the Curvature tool. For instance, this shape needs a curve at the bottom not a straight line. Next, you'll add a new point and reposition it with the Curvature tool. So, select the Selection tool in the Tools panel and click the edge of the shape to select it. Then select the Curvature tool again in the Tools panel. With the shape selected move the Pointer over the bottom path When a + appears next to the Pointer click to add a point. Then drag that new point down to give the bottom of the shape some curve. Deleting a point is just as easy. By clicking to select a point with the Curvature tool you can press Backspace or Delete to remove it. To finish the artwork, choose View Fit All in Window so you can see everything. Then select the Selection tool and drag each of these shapes by their edges - since they don't have a Fill - into position on the right. Like with all things practice with the Curvature tool makes it perfect. Now you can explore creating paths and shapes for your own artwork. Save a copy of this practice file by choosing File Save As... and make sure to give it a different name so you don't overwrite the original practice file.

What you learned: Draw with the Curvature tool

Select the Curvature tool in the Tools panel.

Click to set anchor points in a path. The anchor points create curved paths by default.

To create a straight path with the Curvature tool, double-click to set an anchor point, or double-click an existing anchor point to make the path straight.

To add points to a path, move the pointer over the path. When a plus appears (+) next to the pointer, click to set a point.

To move anchor points, click an anchor point and drag.

Edit paths and shapes

Discover how to edit paths with the Curvature and Direct Selection tools.

Once you create vector artwork you'll most likely need to be able to edit it. Using the artwork in this practice file you'll start by understanding how to select and move Anchor points on paths using the Direct Selection tool. Then you'll learn how to reshape paths and finally edit paths with the Curvature tool. So, you can follow along open this practice file from the downloadable practice files for this tutorial. To make sure you see all of the artwork choose View Fit Artboard in Window Select the Zoom tool in the Tools panel on the left and drag across this circle shape to zoom into it. If you want to resize or rotate, or otherwise transform a shape like this circle you would select it with the Selection tool in the Tools panel. To see and edit the Anchor points for a path select the Direct Selection tool in the Tools panel on the left and then click the edge of the circle. The Anchor points that make up the shape will appear. Click one of the Anchor points and move the Pointer away. You can tell an Anchor point is selected because it's filled with a color. Move the Pointer over an Anchor point then drag to see how it affects the shape. Now you'll work on paths at the top of the Artboard. At times you'll need to pan and zoom in a document to work on different parts. Press the Spacebar to access the Hand tool. Drag in the Document window so you can see the top of the guitar towards the top of the Artboard. Then release the Spacebar. If you need to zoom out a little, you can choose View, Zoom Out. The Direct Selection tool is used to select Anchor points like you just saw. But it can also select and adjust paths. Move the Pointer over a path and click to select it. With the Pointer over the path you'll see this curved arrow which means you can reshape the path by dragging. Drag this curved path to reshape it. Now you'll move to another part of the artwork and see how dragging a straight path works. Press the Spacebar again to access the Hand tool. Drag in the Document window so you can see the path - the straight line down here - then release the Spacebar. Move the Pointer over the edge of this shape and click to select it. Like the path above, you can drag the curved parts of this path to reshape them as well. Move the Pointer over this straight path. Drag the path and notice that it moves as a straight line. Using this method will move the path not reshape it. Since it's not curved. Drag the path up a little. Now you'll go back up to the top of the guitar to start doing some editing with the Curvature tool. Press the Spacebar to access the Hand tool again. Drag in the Document window so you can see the top of the guitar. Then release the Spacebar. If you find yourself with a path or shape that needs editing and moving Anchor points or reshaping paths isn't enough, you can create, delete and edit Anchor points using the Curvature tool. Select the Curvature tool in the Tools panel on the left. Click on this path to select it and the Anchor points in the path will appear. To convert a path from a curve to a straight line - or the other way around - you can double-click an existing Anchor point with the Curvature tool. Move the Pointer over this Anchor point and double-click to make the paths straight. To completely change the shape of a path - like in this area - you can even add or delete Anchor points. Move the Pointer over the edge of the path and when a + appears click to add an Anchor point. Drag that Anchor point to reshape the path then. You can also move Anchor points with the Curvature tool to adjust the path in different ways. Move the Pointer down the path a bit and add another Anchor point by clicking. Drag that new Anchor point to reshape the path. To deselect everything choose Select Deselect. And then - so you can see all of the artwork - choose View Fit Artboard in Window Now that you know some methods for editing paths you'll be able to make changes to paths in your own artwork. Whether it's fine tuning a logo design, or editing artwork for a signage and a whole lot more. To create a copy of this practice file, you can save it with a different name by choosing File Save As...

What you learned: Edit paths

Click the Selection tool in the Tools panel. Click or drag across a shape to select it.

Select the Direct Selection tool in the Tools panel to edit the anchor points of a path. Click the edge of a path to show its anchor points. Drag an anchor point to see its effect on the shape. Drag a path to adjust the curve if it’s part of a curved path. Drag a path to move the path if it’s part of a straight path.

Select the Curvature tool in the Tools panel to edit existing paths. Double-click an anchor point to convert from a straight path to a curved path and back. Move the pointer over a path and click when a plus (+) appears next to the pointer to add an anchor point.

Join artwork together to combine paths

Explore joining paths together using the Join command and Join tool.

In Adobe Illustrator CC you can clean up and create paths in an illustration by joining them. In this video you'll first learn how to join paths together using the Join command. Then you'll learn how to trim paths and close gaps between open paths with the Join tool. If you want to follow along open this practice file from the downloadable practice files for this tutorial. To see all of the artwork out here choose View Fit Artboard in Window. At the top of the Artboard is a logo. On the right is the finished logo. On the left are just a series of separate paths. To complete the logo on the left, you'll join certain of these paths together so they're no longer separate paths and this artwork looks like the finished logo on the right. Select the Zoom tool in the Tools panel on the left and drag across these paths to zoom in a little. Select the Selection tool in the Tools panel and drag across the two outside paths to select just them. To join them together so they're just one path, instead of two paths choose Object Path Join. The paths are joined where the Anchor points overlapped. This is now one path. Joining works on open paths but not on paths that are closed like a circle or a square. Drag across the two middle paths to select them. Be careful not to select anything else. Then choose Object Path Join to join them into one path. Then drag across the two smallest paths to select just them. Once again, choose Object Path Join to join them together. You now have three separate paths. To complete this logo you need to join these paths together in different ways. Click the smallest path to select it if it's not already selected. Then press the Shift key and click the path in the middle to select both. You'll join these two paths together. Choose Object Path Join. Illustrator CC joins the ends of the two paths together with a straight line. The ends of the paths that are closest are the first to be joined, typically. If you were to choose the Join command one more time the path would be closed and the last two ends would be joined together with a straight line. Press the Shift key and click to select the first path you joined to select it as well. You'll join this path with the one you just joined. This time you'll use the keyboard command for joining. Which can be really useful. Press Command + J on Mac or Ctrl + J on Windows to join two ends of the selected paths with a straight line. Now, to give the path ends a rounded appearance click the word Stroke in the Properties panel to the right of the document. And select Round Cap so that you can round the ends of the paths. As you can see, the logo is now complete. Press the Spacebar to access the Hand tool. Then drag in the Document window so you can see the artwork down here. While the Join command is really effective for most paths there are certain situations where simply connecting the ends of an open path or open paths, doesn't work. For instance, this lightning bolt icon. The ends of the path need to be extended and then joined. The Join command won't do that for us. It'll simply connect the points together. Using the Join tool however, you can do this. To select the Join tool, click and hold down on the Shaper tool in the Tools panel on the left. If you see a window up here, you can close it. Then select the Join tool. Come to this lightning bolt path and drag across the ends to see how they join. The Join tool extends the paths and joins them where they intersect. The Join tool can also be used to trim excess parts of a path that aren't necessary. Essentially cleaning up artwork. For instance, you can see these two curved paths here. To make an eye shape and remove the excess drag across the ends of the paths on the left. The two paths are joined where they intersect and the excess is removed. Drag across the ends of the paths on the right as well. To see all of the artwork choose View Fit Artboard in Window. You now have the final shapes necessary to create the eye icon you see on the right. Now you know how to join paths using several methods. The Join command and the Join tool. Each having a different effect on artwork. In your own projects you can use joining to clean up overlapping paths you draw with the Pencil tool, or even join two mirrored paths to create artwork that's symmetrical. Save a copy of the file by choosing File, Save As... And make sure you rename it so you preserve the original practice file.

What you learned: Join paths

Select two paths and choose Object > Path > Join to join the ends closest to each other.

The Join tool is useful for trimming and joining paths. Click and hold the Shaper tool to select the Join tool.